He pointed out a handful of small houses in the distance, noting the differences in the stone and the way they formed a semi-circle to greet the tide. Built in 1907, apparently.

Soon he looked down and apologised at the state of her muddy ankle boots. It was his idea to go this way, after all. Truthfully, she said she didn’t mind. A group of dog walkers in full rain gear acknowledged them cheerily. The coastal air hummed, fluorescent lights and roaring traffic pleasingly absent.

I’ve covered many topics on this blog. So far, money hasn’t been one of them. It can be an awkward subject, so tightly connected to privilege, appearances and security. It’s becoming more common to discuss money within my social circles, potentially thanks to Refinery29’s Money Diaries series and similar articles.

Catch ups with friends often tiptoe around the subject until one of us asks a specific question. Although I would never ask someone to share their financial circumstances if it made them uncomfortable, each conversation has left the air a little clearer. Whether it’s annual salary or monthly housing costs, having points of comparison can help to position and prepare ourselves better.

I haven’t written about this topic in a while, because it hasn’t really been on my mind. I’ve worked hard to overcome my past eating difficulties, so I know this time of year is challenging for many. As the January dieting onslaught arrives, I want to share the advice I wish I’d received a long time ago.

Now that Christmas and the new year are very much in sight, I’ve put together a list of my personal highlights from 2017. This year included difficulties, like losing our wonderful Grandad in September and our darling dog just a few days ago. But reflecting on positive experiences doesn’t take away their significance.

I’d love to hear about the best parts of your year too. Here are mine:

Perhaps ‘sorry’ is verbal padding, part of the way you string sentences together. It can, as writer Sloane Crosley observes, be ‘an entry point to basic affirmative sentences’. For an excessive apologiser, even simple questions or requests are accompanied by that short yet weighty word.